01 July 2011

Dallas Market Center and the Accessories Resource Team to host awards gala at Hilton Anatole Hotel

By Dallas Market Center
DALLAS – June 28, 2011 – Dallas Market Center, the world’s most complete wholesale marketplace, and the Accessories Resource Team (ART), the trade association representing the decorative accessory industry, today announced the judges for the 23rd annual ARTS Awards. This distinguished judging panel will select winners in 28 different categories. The awards will be presented during a gala event on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at the ARTS Awards new location, the Hilton Anatole Hotel. The ARTS Awards is the premier awards program for the decorative accessories industry and is held each January during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market.

The judges are:Martha Griffin joined Design Guide 13 years ago and quickly worked her way up from sales to executive editor. She brings more than 16 years of experience to her position and a unique understanding of the design community. Griffin attended the University of Mississippi where she earned a degree in Interior Design.

Donna Moss has earned a reputation for creating unique and timeless interiors in her many years in the design world. She has won numerous awards for her work and has been featured in several magazines since beginning her design business in the early 1980’s. As co-owner of “That’s Haute,” an interior design, home décor, and women’s fashion store, Moss has been able to keep a high degree of individual attention and personal service with her clients. Most recently she has added reality TV to her resume as one of nine designers on HGTV’s first season of “Design Star.”

Melanie Belew has more than 20 years of experience in both residential and commercial design. She has created a broad spectrum of interiors ranging from classical to contemporary. After working as a designer in Gabbert’s design studio, Belew has been self-employed and practicing interior design for the last 10 years with Belew Design Studio. She attended the University of North Texas, and is licensed with the state of Texas as an interior designer.

Susan Inglis has more than 20 years experience as a producer, importer, sourcing agent and broker in the home furnishings, fashion and gift industries. She has worked in 19 countries on five continents providing services ranging from identifying procedures for ensuring the sustainability of a natural resource base, to market-led product development. This will be her second year as judge of the Manufacturer Green Award which recognizes excellence in sustainable practices and standards.

The ARTS Awards finalists will be announced in August 2011. For additional information regarding the ARTS Awards, please contact Lindsey Villarreal at 214-655-7654 or lvillarreal@mcmcmail.com.

About Dallas Market Center
Founded in 1957, Dallas Market Center is the world’s most complete wholesale marketplace. Within its marketplace of more than five million square feet, retailers from around the globe source products ranging from home furnishings, gifts, decorative accessories and lighting to textiles, fashion accessories and men's, western, women's and children's apparel. With more than 50 markets each year attended by more than 200,000 retail buyers from all 50 states and 78 countries, Dallas Market Center offers hundreds of events and seminars geared toward helping retailers expand business and increase profits. As a result, more than $8 billion in estimated wholesale transactions are conducted annually within the
Dallas Market Center complex. The Dallas Market Center website is available at www.dallasmarketcenter.com.

About the Accessories Resource Team
The Accessories Resource Team (ART) is the association representing accessory manufacturers, retailers, representatives and other industry individuals and companies interested in promoting the decorative home accessories industry. The association’s goal is to enhance the market position of decorative home accessories. Each year ART sponsors programs such as the ART conference, regional educational seminars and the ARTS Awards. The Accessories Resource Team website is available at http://www.accessoriesresourceteam.org/.

About the ARTS Awards
The ARTS Awards is the premier awards program dedicated to the home decorative accessories industry. Twenty-eight categories exist under the headings Manufacturer, Retailer, Product Designer, Sales Representative, Rising Star, Green Design and Academy of Achievement. Anyone in the industry
can nominate including manufacturers, retailers, sales representatives, designers, suppliers, consultants and other industry officials. The Academy of Achievement honoree is selected by the ARTS Awards committee each year. Companies that have won the ARTS Awards five times are inducted into the Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame members are: BJ’s Home Accents, C.S. Wo & Sons, Distinctive Designs International Inc., Feizy Rugs, Fine Art Lamps, Global Views, Montaage, Natural Decorations Inc., Palecek, Paragon, Robb & Stucky and Schonbek Worldwide Lighting.

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About the author

as the founding editor of Home Decor Buyer magazine, attended all the major U.S. and international gift and furniture shows to find new sources. He writes about home interiors, dining, travel and gardening. Follow me on Twitter: jimcarper. Send email to jimbocarper[at]gmail[dot]com